Think about how a user interacts with your page for a minute. Think about how they got there and what *you* want them to do next.
Start thinking of yourself not as web developer but as an application developer. Start thinking about how to engineer your website so that it dictates where the user is going.
* Use Focus to place the user's cursor where you want.
By setting the focus, your user's cursor is dumped into the field that you want them to be entering data into - whether that be a field to capture their zip code, or to perform a product search or whatever. This allows them to immediately begin typing on screen - where they expect to be typing - and start converting into a lead, sale, etc.
Need a good example? Go to Yahoo.com. Start typing. Your text is dumped into their search field.
Need a bad example? Go to Amazon.com. Start typing. Your text is going into vapor.
Need some sample code? http://gregs.tcias.co.uk/javascript/javascript:_setting_the_form_focus.cfm
* Use TabIndex to guide the user who Tabs.
By setting the proper TabIndex on a screen you're allowing users to move to the elements on the screen which would be most appropriate for their next action. This might be somewhat obvious, but different browsers will behave in different ways, especially if more than one form is present on a page.
Need a good example? Go to Yahoo.com. Start typing. Hit tab. Your focus is now on the Web Search button.
Need a bad example? Go to YouTube.com. Start typing. Hit tab. Your focus is now on the YouTube.com logo.
Need some sample code? http://codepunk.hardwar.org.uk/ahtml32.htm
Remember, every little bit that can help you convert your users to perform the revenue producing action you want them to will make you more money.
Regards,
Dave
Start thinking of yourself not as web developer but as an application developer. Start thinking about how to engineer your website so that it dictates where the user is going.
* Use Focus to place the user's cursor where you want.
By setting the focus, your user's cursor is dumped into the field that you want them to be entering data into - whether that be a field to capture their zip code, or to perform a product search or whatever. This allows them to immediately begin typing on screen - where they expect to be typing - and start converting into a lead, sale, etc.
Need a good example? Go to Yahoo.com. Start typing. Your text is dumped into their search field.
Need a bad example? Go to Amazon.com. Start typing. Your text is going into vapor.
Need some sample code? http://gregs.tcias.co.uk/javascript/javascript:_setting_the_form_focus.cfm
* Use TabIndex to guide the user who Tabs.
By setting the proper TabIndex on a screen you're allowing users to move to the elements on the screen which would be most appropriate for their next action. This might be somewhat obvious, but different browsers will behave in different ways, especially if more than one form is present on a page.
Need a good example? Go to Yahoo.com. Start typing. Hit tab. Your focus is now on the Web Search button.
Need a bad example? Go to YouTube.com. Start typing. Hit tab. Your focus is now on the YouTube.com logo.
Need some sample code? http://codepunk.hardwar.org.uk/ahtml32.htm
Remember, every little bit that can help you convert your users to perform the revenue producing action you want them to will make you more money.
Regards,
Dave
